Since any drunk dose of alcohol immediately enters the digestive system, then alcohol and digestion have the closest relationship. After all, it is this system that first of all experiences all its most harmful effects.
When alcohol is taken along with a certain portion of food, then its effect, or rather the degree of irritation on the mucous membranes, somewhat decreases, and the process of its absorption into the blood also slows down. This is mainly due to the fact that some foods contain compounds such as fats that can dissolve alcohol and retain it in the stomach. But because of this, almost all alcohol abusers are often diagnosed with alcoholic gastritis.
alcohol for digestion serves as the main factor in the development of not only gastritis, but also stomach ulcers, which did not appear from drinking alcohol. It also causes increased excretion gastric juice, which contains high level mucus and hydrochloric acid, but with less of an enzyme such as pepsin. And this has a very adverse effect on the process of digestion in the colon and tissues. And also leads to a change in the secretion of the pancreas, especially in cases of pronounced alcoholic pancreatitis.
sick for treatment this kind diseases, it is necessary to stop drinking alcohol, and digestion will eventually return to normal. Otherwise, surgery is inevitable.
Every third alcohol abuser permanent poisoning alcohol, persistent inflammatory changes are observed. Some have an uneven thickened mucous membrane covered with mucus. Others are thin. In the gastric juice, the amount of pepsin decreases due to the fact that alcohol is constantly acting on it, and digestion is significantly worsened because of this.
Symptoms of the disease are often permanent pain under the spoon and the occurrence of heartburn. Every morning people have excruciating nausea and vomiting. After some time, inflammation passes to the intestines, which leads to frequent constipation for a change with diarrhea. And in much advanced stages alcoholic disease there are ulcers, and very often - cancerous tumors. All this is caused, as a rule, by the fact that food mixed with alcohol, during decay, leaves a huge amount of harmful substances in the intestines and stomach. They have a constant intoxication, thereby increasing the risk of the occurrence and development of cancerous tumors directly in the large intestine and stomach.
Mucosal permeability is increased when it is affected by alcohol and digestion cannot proceed efficiently. This is due to the fact that hydrogen cations penetrate into the mucous membrane, namely into its layer, which leads to the destruction of capillaries, and as a result of this, blood is often found in the stomach.
Also, alcohol causes very strong decline motor activity digestive tract, and in particular small intestine. Accordingly, this leads to a deterioration in the absorption of proteins, vitamins and carbohydrates, which are so necessary for the digestion process. In this case, even if the food is full and rich, the human body still will not receive in full all the necessary nutrients. This is not counting those situations where drinkers often do not eat alcohol at all.
Those who drink alcohol on a regular basis experience age spots, and this is due to impaired absorption of iron into the blood. And due to the fact that it is not able to assimilate folic acid, the composition of the blood is disturbed.
As you can see, the use of alcohol leads to rather disappointing consequences. After all, not only the work of the digestive tract is disrupted, but very often there are sometimes even incurable diseases such as cancer of the stomach or intestines.
The negative impact of alcohol-containing products on all body systems is obvious. But if the liver and heart do not make themselves known immediately, then the stomach immediately reacts to ethyl. Many are familiar with nausea, impaired stools, vomiting and other manifestations of drinking. And you don't have to be chronic alcoholic to experience all the "charms" of a hangover. The digestive organs are the first to encounter a toxic product and give an instant reaction.
At regular use alcohol-containing products cause serious damage to the gastrointestinal tract. The pancreas and stomach suffer the most.
Ethyl leads to dysfunction of the digestive system, which reduces the production of certain enzymes and disrupts the process of digestion of food.
Due to malfunctions in the work of the gastrointestinal tract, failures also occur in other systems of the human body. There is a sharp weight loss, liver function decreases, vitamin and protein deficiency is observed.
What happens to the gastrointestinal tract under the influence of alcohol
The effect of alcohol on the gastrointestinal tract depends on the strength of alcoholic beverages and the frequency of their intake. The defeat occurs in descending order - in the order in which alcohol passes through the digestive system:
- esophagus - alcohol leads to a burn, resulting in the formation of ulcerative lesions. As a result, bleeding may occur, which is life-threatening for the patient;
- stomach - ethyl has an irritating effect, leads to the destruction of the mucous membrane, prevents the normal digestion of food and the release of gastric juice. With regular use of alcohol, erosive lesions of the stomach are formed, and gastritis may form. Alcohol abuse is one of the reasons for the development of stomach and duodenal ulcers;
- pancreas - the detrimental effect of ethyl on the pancreas is obvious. Moreover, enzymes are not required for the processing of alcohol, but the pancreas produces them in full, since it receives the appropriate order from the brain. As a result, enzymes begin to process the tissues of the organ itself, which leads to a decrease in the functions of the digestive gland and the formation pathological conditions: pancreatitis, pancreatic necrosis, etc.;
- small intestine - ethyl irritates the intestinal walls and increases the permeability of the mucous membrane. As a result, problems such as dysbacteriosis, diarrhea or constipation arise;
- rectum - ethyl increases the sensitivity of the intestine, increases the risk of developing hemorrhoidal disease provokes diarrhea.
Any doctor will confirm Negative influence alcohol on the digestive system. Moreover, ethyl does not act pointwise, but comprehensively, inhibiting the work of all departments of the gastrointestinal tract.
Methods for restoring the digestive system
The main aspect quick recovery GI tract is complete failure from alcohol. Measures such as complex detoxification of the body and the use of drugs to accelerate the regeneration of mucous membranes when they are damaged are required. Neutralize bad influence alcohol on digestion will help absorbents: Activated carbon, "Enterosgel" and "Polysorb". With damage to the pancreas, a light diet with a minimum amount of fat, without spices and preservatives is necessary. To eliminate dysbacteriosis, preparations containing beneficial bacteria and normalizing intestinal microflora.
If necessary, cholagogues and diuretics are prescribed, as well as other drugs that help cleanse the body and normalize metabolic processes after the effects of alcohol on the organs.
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The destructive effect of alcohol extends primarily to the liver, leading to its cirrhosis, and to the gastric mucosa, causing the so-called alcoholic gastritis. Gastroenterologists, analyzing the effect of smoking on digestion, consider the treatment of a patient with peptic ulcer stomach, gastritis, duodenitis and esophagitis so that he continued to smoke.
Some drinkers claim that they drink alcohol allegedly "for appetite." However, as a result of alcoholic gastritis, the digestive capacity of gastric juice decreases, the absorption of the taken food products getting worse. There are also those who, in an effort to overcome acute respiratory infections, flu, drink a pill with a glass of vodka acetylsalicylic acid(aspirin). This leads to ulceration of the gastric mucosa and bleeding.
Of all the digestive organs, alcohol strikes the liver most of all, causing damage to liver cells and their replacement by cells. connective tissue. There is alcoholic cirrhosis of this vital important body, as a result of which a person loses his ability to work, becomes disabled. Complications of cirrhosis of the liver are massive life-threatening bleeding from varicose veins of the esophagus, as well as growing dropsy of the abdomen.
However, the harmful effects of alcohol do not end there. Alcohol abuse affects the central and peripheral nervous systems, cardiovascular. Even a single use of them can lead to irreversible consequences.
Gastroenterologists consider incompatible treatment of a patient with peptic ulcer of the stomach and duodenum, gastritis, duodenitis, esophagitis with smoking. It has been proven that nicotine sharply enhances antiperistalsis in the duodenum and the reflux of its contents into the stomach, which naturally leads to an exacerbation inflammatory process. Thus, a smoked cigarette actually negates all the efforts of physicians to carry out medical and dietary treatment.
In addition, nicotine and other chemical compounds contained in tobacco smoke, dramatically reduce the concentration of vitamin C in the body (almost half compared to non-smokers). Alcohol reduces the concentration of B vitamins and all other fat-soluble vitamins in about the same proportion. The mechanism is simple: not having time to assimilate in the body, vitamins, having dissolved in alcohol, are quickly removed from the body, without bringing any benefit.
The harmful effect of alcohol and the effect of smoking on the digestive organs should by no means be underestimated if you are serious about maintaining your health.
They act on the mucous membrane of the digestive tract, inflicting the "first blow". At the same time, mucous cells and sensitive cells are strongly irritated. nerve endings, which reflexively cause abundant saliva and juice secretion, thirst. The resulting juices are qualitatively different from those that are released when eating. Gastric juice is excreted with a small amount of enzymes and high content hydrochloric acid is protective, not food juice. Irritating the gastric mucosa, it, together with alcohol, stimulates the feeling of appetite (“appetizing juice”). dehydrates cells, causing inflammation and thickening of the tissue, making it difficult for the absorption of nutrients telnye substances, vitamins, especially the absorption of thiamine(vitamin B) and its transformation into cocarboxylase - an enzyme that plays very important role in the cellular respiration and carbohydrate metabolism. Therefore, the violation etsya carbohydrate metabolism. Proteins, vitamins, trace elements come in insufficient quantities. Protein-vitamin deficiency occurs in the body. In addition, alcohol precipitates the most easily digestible proteins from solutions, compacts them, making digestion difficult. Alcohol has a negative effect on digestive enzymes that break down proteins and fats, as a result of which the absorption of food is sharply reduced. The functions of the digestive tract are disturbed, the mucous membrane becomes inflamed, which leads to gastritis (color table 2), duodenitis, ulcers. Abundant acidic gastric juice secretion leads to overeating and accelerates the transition of food from the stomach to duodenum; its membrane is irritated, protective mucus is released, which can form mucus plugs and clog the pancreatic ducts, and as a result, severe inflammation of the pancreas - pancreatitis.
Overeating and violation of the diet disrupts digestion - belching, vomiting, nausea, and sharp pains appear. Further alcohol consumption leads to acute or chronic gastritis, which is accompanied by sharp stomach pains, burning sensation, pressure and heaviness in the epigastric region, bad smell mouth, headaches. The mucous membrane is destroyed; she becomes rough, ulcerated. Due to the death of cells that produce hydrochloric acid, secretion is depleted and the acidity of gastric juice decreases.
As a result hydrochloric acid in gastric juice completely disappears, which causes chronic acid-free gastritis. They lose their appetite, they drink without eating, and this dramatically depletes the body. Developing especially fast intestinal diseases when consuming alcohol substitutes at the age of 23-45 years. Patients completely lose their ability to work, become disabled.
Alcohol not only affects the intestinal walls, it is absorbed into the bloodstream. Blood containing alcohol from the digestive tract through portal vein enters . Here, under the influence of enzymes, alcohol is partially oxidized to carbon monoxide ( IV ), forming harmful intermediates that poison liver cells; part is retained in an unchanged state, reducing very important vital functions of the liver - the regulation of metabolism, the formation of urea, phagocytosis, and the neutralization of intestinal poisons. Carbohydrate metabolism and glycogen content are disturbed, fat accumulates in cells. Due to the death of active liver cells, fatty degeneration turns into chronic inflammation of the liver (hepatitis) and general poisoning of the body. Stagnation of bile changes the composition of the blood, it increases the amount of fat and bile pigments, decreases the amount of glucose, vitamins and proteins, which dramatically reduces the body's performance. The final stage of chronic alcohol poisoning of the liver is cirrhosis - a severe, incurable disease.
All other alcoholic disorders of the digestive tract can be treated if you completely abandon alcohol and strictly observe the diet.
On the digestive system of children and adolescentsnical use alcoholic beverages It has a more acute and destructive effect than on adults, since in childhood the mucous membrane of the gastrointestinal tract is especially tender, easily vulnerable and very susceptible to poisons.
Alcohol gradually destroys secretory and motor telny functions of digestion and the process of absorption, in re As a result, vitamin-protein deficiency occurs, which in turn delays the growth and development of the body. There is a loss of mass, exhaustion; decrease protective properties blood and tissues, resulting in poisoning by alcohol and its oxidation products, the overall resistance of the body decreases.
The value of alcohol as a substance that promotes the digestion of food has long been known. A traditional glass of sherry before meals enhances appetite, stimulates the gastric mucosa well and pleasantly relaxes, allowing a person to get optimal pleasure from eating. The ancient Romans drank wine to stimulate their appetite, and the tradition of drinking before meals was firmly established in England by the seventeenth century. Without abuse, a glass of sherry or champagne improves appetite, but, according to research results, alcoholics have an invariably poor appetite, and peculiar eating habits develop due to excessive drinking of alcoholic beverages. Therefore, it is important to know the effect of alcohol on the gastrointestinal tract.
The effect of alcohol on digestion
What changes alcohol causes when it affects digestion is a serious question. Alcohol strongly affects the processes occurring in gastrointestinal tract. This happens for many reasons and has its consequences, the main ones are worth considering.
Enlarged salivary glands
Although alcohol acts as an appetite stimulant, it does nothing to increase salivation. While drinking alcohol, parotid and other salivary glands They produce less saliva, which makes the food seem dry, which often causes difficulty in swallowing. In alcoholics, the development of sialadinosis, an increase in the size of salivary glands, which is most noticeable when the parotid glands are affected.
Important! Not even that much drinking people it is worth paying attention to such an increase in glands, because this may be evidence characteristic lesion liver.
Diseases of the esophagus
also applies to the esophagus negative impact overuse alcohol, which is manifested in the development chronic inflammation. It is known as esophagitis and affects lower section esophagus, which is located behind the breastbone. It is characterized burning pains more familiar as heartburn. This disease usually worsens early in the morning.
Stomach diseases
Heartburn and chest pain are caused by a violation of the contractions of the esophagus in the same way as the burning of its mucous membrane. The effect of alcohol on esophageal motility can cause problems with swallowing, in other words, dysphagia. It can be the result of chronic scarring in the esophagus or, less commonly, the appearance of malignant formations. Any difficulty in swallowing should be checked immediately. The gastric mucosa is able to adapt to a wide variety of stimuli.
The absorption of alcohol in the stomach is determined by many factors, including the concentration and nature of the drink, drinking it before or after a meal, and the individual characteristics of the drinker are also taken into account. One reason alcohol takes longer to break down on an empty stomach is that fasting lowers levels of alcohol dehydrogenase, a natural enzyme that can break down alcohol. In women, this enzyme works more efficiently with age, in men, everything happens the other way around.
bowel disease
The gut and alcohol have a special relationship. Alcohol affects work small intestine, affecting both its blood supply and its peristalsis. Scientists have proven that in older people, alcohol can destroy the microorganism, ulcerative. But this only applies to people over 65 years of age.
The effects of alcohol on the gut are exacerbated in the presence of certain medical conditions. With the development of chronic pancreatitis in a patient, there is a tendency for the condition to worsen. Chronic pancreatitis often the result of alcoholism. Significant alcohol consumption is associated not only with diseases of the pancreas, but also with an increase in the amount of triglycerides in the blood, which is one of the blood lipids, which increases the risk of developing diseases of the cardiovascular system.
Important! Judging by latest research, changes in triglyceride levels may be one of the reasons for the loss of the protective effect of alcohol, which is present with moderate consumption, as soon as drinking man starts drinking alcohol.
Gallbladder diseases
The gallbladder is a kind of reservoir for bile, which makes it a very important part of the digestion process. According to many doctors, its function is improved by alcohol - a dose of alcohol helps to accelerate the emptying of the gallbladder after a meal. Alcohol also speeds up the filling of the bladder, and this increased bile production is thought to prevent the formation of stones. In this case, the wine will the best option than beer or hard alcohol.
The effect of alcohol on the colon
Alcoholic beverages act as a stimulus for gastrointestinal reflux, which has an immediate effect on the colon. Due to this reflex, peristalsis of the colon is caused at the time when food is in the stomach. This overly sensitive gut problem often strikes people with irritable bowel syndrome when drinking alcohol. This is especially true in the presence of stress. Most of those with this syndrome note that the effect of alcohol on the intestines is greater, the darker the drink consumed. Therefore, with bowel diseases, you need to drink alcohol wisely.
Aperitifs and digestifs
When compiling the menu of any holiday table, which will contain alcohol, Special attention it is worth paying attention to the correct serving of alcoholic beverages - they should go well with food and complement its taste. Here it is worth considering such concepts as aperitif and digestif.
Aperitifs (from Latin aperīre - “to open”) are a group of alcoholic drinks that are served on the table before meals. They are designed to stimulate appetite and promote digestion. The role of aperitifs can also be performed by non-alcoholic drinks - plain, soda, mineral water or sour juices (lemon, orange, tomato, birch). From alcoholic drinks, aperitifs include:
- Absinthe;
- Champagne;
- Vodka;
- Beer;
- Vermouth;
- Sherry;
- Port wine;
- Cognac (Armagnac);
- Whiskey;
- Gin;
- Strong alcoholic cocktails.
Aperitifs are divided into three groups:
- Single - have one drink in their composition;
- Combined - several drinks served at the same time;
- Mixed - mixtures of special preparation (cocktails).
When choosing aperitifs, it is worth remembering a few important rules. Firstly, warm, hot or sweet drinks are not served on the table. Secondly, the volume of drinks should be moderate so as not to cause people to become very intoxicated. And finally, you need to choose the right snack.
Digestives (from lat. digestivus - promoting digestion) are alcoholic beverages that help digest food. They are served at the end of the meal. They should be stronger than served aperitifs, because after a hearty meal, the taste of light drinks is difficult to perceive normally. Non-alcoholic digestifs include tea and coffee, but many experts usually distinguish them in special group. Alcoholic digestifs can be:
- Fortified and dessert wines;
- Liqueurs and balms;
- Grappa;
- Calvados;
- Whiskey;
- Brandy;
- Cognac.
From the above list, it can be seen that the same alcohol is suitable for drinking both before and after eating, but it cannot be duplicated during one feast. Therefore, when choosing aperitifs and digestifs, you should be guided by a couple of simple rules:
- Light drinks are served as aperitifs, dark ones as digestifs;
- Digestifs should always be stronger than aperitifs.
By following these simple rules, you can easily choose the best alcohol for any feast. There is no single standard here; when choosing, you need to take into account only the tastes and preferences of those who are going to use these drinks.